RAM, Vista, and Wireless Network Card

[CatChase]

My Dell 8400 had XP. We upgraded to Vista a month ago. No problems with the
wireless network card. (Netgear WG311 v.3)

HOWEVER - we decided to purchase more RAM for the pc. We called Dell to
purchase the RAM so it would be compatible. We had two 512MB cards in dual
slots. We ordered two 1GB cards to place in the remaining dual slots. That
gives us 3GB of RAM. Vista maxes out at 4MB according to what was sent to me
by NetGear.

The problem is that if we use all four slots, the network card stops
working. If we use two 1GB cards in dual slots, the network card works fine.
If we use all four slots, the network card stops working. We changed the
cards around so the 1GB cards were in one set and the 512MB cards in another
set. We had them paired each time, so that was not the problem.

We ordered two more 1GB cards with the thought that because the four we had
were not quadruplets, that might be the problem. It isn't. Dell took back
the extra RAM.

Dell support blames the problem on NetGear. NetGear blames the problem on
Vista. The technician at NetGear sent me a kb of Vista limits for RAM. When
I replied that we hadn't maxed out on RAM, I got an email that the email I
sent in reply couldn't be delivered.

So, any suggestions? I did as much troubleshooting as I could and I
researched the problem extensively for two weeks prior to asking you. (The
card worked fine with Vista prior to the upgrade in RAM and it only stops
working if all four slots are used.)

Thanks!

 

[Bob F.]

The NetGear card probably shares some RAM and got confused when you
installed the new RAM. When the Netgear card's driver was first installed
it automatically configures its work space (RAM sharing). So. You can do 1
of 2 things. 1. Go into Device Manager, find the driver and update it. It
will reconfigure when you do. Alternatively, you can delete the driver,
turn your machine off and on and the machine will find and install a new
driver, or at least it will be refreshed. Or 2. A more ruthless operation.
Shut you computer down, Remove the Netgear card. Turn you computer on, let
it boot up. It will configure with NO card. Then shut it down, install the
card, turn your computer on, it will find the card, drivers and reconfigure
itself once again. Everything should work then. In both of these cases it
should be after you have installed all the RAM.

 

[CatChase]

We did all of that.

The NetGear card probably shares some RAM and got confused when you
installed the new RAM. When the Netgear card's driver was first installed
it automatically configures its work space (RAM sharing). So. You can do 1
of 2 things. 1. Go into Device Manager, find the driver and update it. It
will reconfigure when you do. Alternatively, you can delete the driver,
turn your machine off and on and the machine will find and install a new
driver, or at least it will be refreshed. Or 2. A more ruthless operation.
Shut you computer down, Remove the Netgear card. Turn you computer on, let
it boot up. It will configure with NO card. Then shut it down, install the
card, turn your computer on, it will find the card, drivers and reconfigure
itself once again. Everything should work then. In both of these cases it
should be after you have installed all the RAM.

 

[CatChase]

How do I edit messages I've already posted? I meant to say that Vista maxes
out at 4GB not MB.

 

[DL]

Does netgear have any firmware up dates for this card?

If you run the test utility from www.memtest.org when all slots are
populated does it run without err's?

 

[CatChase]

We updated everything we could through the properties values in the system
folder. I will run the test later today.

Thank you.

 

[DL]

I believe you would have to physically visit netgear site to source any
firmware, and also any driver update.
Using win update for drivers is not reccommended

 

[CatChase]

I went to NetGear's site. There is no upgrade and I was told it is an issue
involving Vista. That's why I submitted technical support requests through
NetGear. It took over two weeks to get a response from "superior
technicians" and that simply told me that I was using too much RAM, when in
fact, I was not. In addition, NetGear closed the technical support request
and told me that if I wanted more help with it, I would have to pay for
technical support. The NetGear card is not that old, so it should still be
covered.

That's NetGear's whole attitude in this. If I want help, I have to pay for
it. However, since I don't want to pay for it (I shouldn't have to pay for
it), the problem is with Vista according to NetGear. I'm sure if I paid for
it, the problem would be resolved in a matter of seconds.

So, I came here to see if anyone else had the same problem. I'm not at the
house, so I can't run the tests. I will do so soon.

Thanks.

 

[Charlie]

Can you borrrow another network card from someone and see if it works?